"Imran Khan," former Prime Minister of Pakistan, was sent back to prison on Friday morning after undergoing a medical examination by a team at a hospital in Islamabad. He was assessed as having no condition requiring hospital treatment. The Supreme Court ordered the examination following concerns raised by his lawyers and family about his health.
Imran Khan was returned to prison early this morning (21 Aug) after a health check at Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad. Medical experts evaluated him as "medically fit" and suitable to remain in custody.
Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar revealed that Khan was examined by a team of specialists including an ophthalmologist, a cardiologist, and an internist. His sister, Asma Khan, was present throughout the health assessment on Thursday night.
Khan's hospital transfer followed a Supreme Court order issued last Tuesday, requiring authorities to take him to the hospital within 48 hours for medical evaluation, after complaints about the health of the 73-year-old former prime minister.
This order represents one of the most significant concessions Khan has received from the court since his imprisonment in 2023 on corruption charges, which he has consistently maintained are politically motivated.
Besides ordering Khan's hospital examination, the Supreme Court allowed him to meet with family members after months without visits. On Tuesday night, Asma Khan visited her brother in prison and stayed with him throughout the medical checks.
The area around Shifa International Hospital was heavily secured by police, with barricades, police vehicles, and numerous officers deployed. Vehicles were moved away from the hospital perimeter to allow security forces clear access, and police and armored vehicles patrolled nearby.
The Supreme Court also warned Khan's party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), against holding press conferences outside the hospital, aiming to prevent the former prime minister's health from becoming a political issue.
Earlier, Khan's lawyers reported that he suffered multiple health problems, including vision issues, and lacked adequate access to specialist medical care.
In February, Khan's lawyers stated he had only about 15 percent vision in his right eye after prison authorities failed to provide requested treatment. The Pakistani government has denied these allegations.
In its Tuesday ruling, the judges acknowledged constitutional and legal obligations to protect the life, health, dignity, and safety of detainees, and stipulated that an ophthalmologist be involved in Khan's evaluation and care.
Both the court and PTI members warned Khan's supporters against gathering near the hospital, as doing so could violate court orders and cause disturbances around the facility.
Khan, a former captain of Pakistan’s national cricket team, served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022 before being removed by a parliamentary vote of no confidence.
He was imprisoned in August 2023 and faces more than 100 cases, ranging from leaking state secrets to misappropriating gifts received as a national leader. Khan denies all charges, calling them politically motivated.
Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were each sentenced to 17 years in prison late last year on corruption and state property-related cases.
Khan’s imprisonment triggered large-scale protests by his supporters nationwide. Authorities responded with crackdowns, leading to numerous arrests and prosecutions of PTI members and supporters.
Although Khan remains imprisoned and politically disqualified at various times, he continues to be a significant figure in Pakistani politics with a large nationwide support base.
. BBC